IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND WAS INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET OR A CRACK IN ENGINE BLOCK. THIS IS A 3.8L ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
1995 Ford Mustang
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Mustang years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Ford Mustang are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mustang years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 53 of 602 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 339 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
48 crash reports29 fire reports25 injury reports
What owners actually said
602 reportsSTEERING LINKAGE BROKE, CAUSING EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING COLUMN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WOULD DIE OUT FOR NO REASON. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING PRIOR TO STALLING. THIS HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART SOMETIMES. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. *AK
HEATER BLOWING COOL AIR. MECHANIC REPLACED RADIATOR CAP. CAR OVERHEATED--REPLACED THERMOSTAT. CAR STILL OVERHEATING--REPLACED RADIATOR. STILL OVERHEATING--REPLACED THERMOSTAT AGAIN. STILL OVERHEATING--DEALER SAYS IT IS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET! ALL OF THIS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT TEN DAYS. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN EPIDEMI…
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HEATER BLOWING COOL AIR. MECHANIC REPLACED RADIATOR CAP. CAR OVERHEATED--REPLACED THERMOSTAT. CAR STILL OVERHEATING--REPLACED RADIATOR. STILL OVERHEATING--REPLACED THERMOSTAT AGAIN. STILL OVERHEATING--DEALER SAYS IT IS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET! ALL OF THIS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT TEN DAYS. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN EPIDEMIC AMONG FORD 3.8L ENGINES. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. *AK
FORD HAS SAID THAT ONLY THE 3.5 'S HAVE PROBLEMS NO MUSTANGS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AT FIRST THE SER. MANAGER SIAD THESE THING JUST WEAR OUT SORRY BUT I HAVE COMPLAINED SO MUCH THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO CUT ME A DEAL ON THE COST THEY HAVENT DECIDED THE PRICE YET, THEY HAVE HAD MY CARE SINCE 28TH OF DEC. (ITS NOW JAN. 16TH) …
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FORD HAS SAID THAT ONLY THE 3.5 'S HAVE PROBLEMS NO MUSTANGS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AT FIRST THE SER. MANAGER SIAD THESE THING JUST WEAR OUT SORRY BUT I HAVE COMPLAINED SO MUCH THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO CUT ME A DEAL ON THE COST THEY HAVENT DECIDED THE PRICE YET, THEY HAVE HAD MY CARE SINCE 28TH OF DEC. (ITS NOW JAN. 16TH) AND IM NOT SURE WHEN ILL GET IT BACK. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
I WROTE TO MR. JAC NASSER PERSONALLY USING CERTIFIED MAIL AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED BY A MR. LANCE TANG. I WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD EVEN THOUGH THE REPAIR COST $3316.88. I MUST SAY I THOUGHT THIS WAS QUITE A TRAVESTY WHEN FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE THIS HEAD GASKET PROB…
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I WROTE TO MR. JAC NASSER PERSONALLY USING CERTIFIED MAIL AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED BY A MR. LANCE TANG. I WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD EVEN THOUGH THE REPAIR COST $3316.88. I MUST SAY I THOUGHT THIS WAS QUITE A TRAVESTY WHEN FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR ENGINES IN OTHER VEHICLES. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND HEAT NOT WORKING. NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK HOME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THERMOSTAT, CHANGED COOLANT AND OIL. NEXT DAY CAR STILL OVERHEATED AND NO HEAT. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO DID SAME AS MECHA…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND HEAT NOT WORKING. NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK HOME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THERMOSTAT, CHANGED COOLANT AND OIL. NEXT DAY CAR STILL OVERHEATED AND NO HEAT. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO DID SAME AS MECHANIC WITH SAME RESULT. THEY CHECKED THE WATER PUMP, NOTICED WHITE SUBSTANCE IN RADIATOR. THEY RECOMMENDED AND REPLACED RADIATOR. I WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET IS OK AT THIS TIME. THEY RELEASED THE CAR TO ME. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A WEEK, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND HEAT VERY SPORADIC. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATE I NEED NEW HEAD GASKETS. THEY WILL NOT REFUND MONEY FOR RADIATOR REPLACEMENT. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR, AND THEY STATED THEY WILL NOT REFUND MONEY FOR RADIATOR OR PAY FOR HEAD GASKETS.*AK
OVERHEATING ENGINE....REPLACED EVERYTHING...NOW SAYS BLOWN HEADGASKET??? I SEE TONS OF THESE!! NEED HELP!!!
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON WAY TO WORK CAR WAS TOWED TO MANTECA FORD AND HEADS TORN DOWN, HEAD GASKET AND ADDITIONAL WORK ESTIMATED AT $2200, REFUSED WORK AT THAT TIME, HAD CAR REPAIRED AT LATER DATE, TOTAL COST $900. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/ OVERDRIVE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, CAR TAKEN TO GARAGE 10 COMPONENTS REPAIRED …
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ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON WAY TO WORK CAR WAS TOWED TO MANTECA FORD AND HEADS TORN DOWN, HEAD GASKET AND ADDITIONAL WORK ESTIMATED AT $2200, REFUSED WORK AT THAT TIME, HAD CAR REPAIRED AT LATER DATE, TOTAL COST $900. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/ OVERDRIVE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, CAR TAKEN TO GARAGE 10 COMPONENTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED, TOTAL COST $1583.77. CAR HAS ONLY 82,000 MILES ON ODOMETER AND IS NOT RACED OR USED IN A HAPHAZARD MANNER, IT IS MAIN TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK (ROUND TRIP 1.5 MI) AND AS TRAVEL CAR FOR VACATION, HAS NEVER TOWED ANOTHER VEHICLE NOR BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS. BELIEVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE PRECIPITATED BY ELECTRIC COOLING FAN FAILURE 3 MOS. PRIOR. FAN REPLACED AT PERSONAL COST, NO PROBLEMS. *AK
I WONDER WHY FORD HASN'T RECALLED THE MUSTANG ALONG WITH THE OTHER CARS WITH THIS ENGINE? *AK
Official recalls
501V390000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Dec 21, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L AND 3.8L ENGINES AND MUSTANG VEHICLES WITH 3.8L AND 5.0L ENGINES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING TO SEIZE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED WHICH COULD MELT THE FAN MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE COOLING FAN MOTOR COULD IGNITE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER. IF THE COOLING FAN IS INOPERATIVE, THE FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
01V318000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Oct 3, 2001
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED AFTER APRIL 5, 2000. THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE INFLATOR MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT WELDS THAT COULD PREVENT PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIR BAG.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
00V349000 · Parking Brake:conventional
Oct 30, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE NOT FULLY APPLIED AND NOT IN FIRST GEAR, AS DIRECTED IN THE OWNER GUIDE, AND THE SELF ADJUSTMENT PAWL SUBSEQUENTLY SKIPS ONE OR TWO TEETH, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE ON SOME GRADES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.
97V180000 · Structure:body:hood
Oct 20, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS. TEARING OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS DURING MINOR FRONT END COLLISIONS CAN RESULT IN A GAP AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. AIR FORCED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD AREA FOR ANY DAMAGE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, THE HOOD WILL BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.
95V134000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
Jul 17, 1995
THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WITH INCORRECT TAPER BALL STUDS. THE INCORRECT TAPERED BALL STUDS CAN FRACTURE WITHIN 50,000 MILES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURED BALL STUD CAN RESULT IN A NOTICEABLE SHAKE OR SHIMMY AND COULD CAUSE THE AFFECTED WHEEL TO TUCK INWARD OR OUTWARD, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY TAPERED BALL STUDS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4EA98013 · Parking Brake
Opened May 27, 1998 · Closed Oct 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE97051 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Dec 23, 1997 · Closed May 27, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE NUMBER OF CRASHES REPORTED TOT HE MANUFACTURER WARRANTS FURTHER THIS INVESTIGATION
EA97018 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment
Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Oct 22, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE97011 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment
Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS INDICATING THE OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES AS THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN.FORD HAS PROVIDE 39 ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ODI REPORTS.FORD INDICATES THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS PRIOR COLLISION DAMAGE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.